Host and microbial gut ecosystem (Gut microbiome)

The host and microbial gut ecosystem refers to the complex symbiotic relationship between the human host and the trillions of microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract. This ecosystem plays a critical role in human health by facilitating the digestion of complex carbohydrates, synthesizing essential vitamins, and training the host's immune system to distinguish between commensals and pathogens (PMID: 29351445). Disruptions to this balance, known as dysbiosis, are linked to a wide range of conditions including inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic disorders, and even neurological conditions via the gut-brain axis (PMID: 30232463). While not a single molecular target, the gut ecosystem is increasingly viewed as a "virtual organ" that can be modulated through diet, probiotics, antibiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (PMID: 23844617). Therapeutic strategies aim to restore a healthy microbial composition or leverage specific microbial metabolites to achieve systemic health benefits.

Other names

Gut microbiotaIntestinal floraGastrointestinal ecosystemHost-microbiota axisIntestinal microbiome

Modulation of microbial community structure, restoration of commensal bacteria, and production of bioactive metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) to influence host physiology.